Hartford, CT - The Department of Public Health (DPH) on Wednesday announced that grocery stores and pharmacies can apply through the month of January to participate in the state’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Stores must meet certain criteria to participate. WIC authorized grocery stores are required to maintain a minimum inventory of healthy foods that includes fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grain bread, whole grain cereal, low-fat milk, eggs, infant cereal and formula, and other nutritious staples for moms, children and babies. Pharmacies can participate but are only authorized to sell formula.

DPH also announced that starting this year vendors may now apply through an online process. To apply for WIC authorization, vendors should send an email to DPH.ptwic@ct.gov requesting the information needed to begin the online vendor authorization process. All information necessary to complete the online application process will be emailed. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2018.

The WIC Program will be hosting Application Assistance Workshops for vendors to receive support with processing the online application:
Dates: January 11th, January 18th, January 23rd, January 25th
Times: 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM all four (4) days
Location: Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106

The WIC Program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered in Connecticut by the Department of Public Health providing benefits to almost 50,000 people. The WIC mission is to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care and social services. For more information on the DPH WIC Program, please visit www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-8084.